INGESTIBLE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COLLECTING SAMPLES IN THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT AND/OR DELIVERING HEALTH-RELATED SUBSTANCE THERETO

An ingestible apparatus for collecting samples from a target area of a gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a subject and/or for delivering a health-related substance thereto. An example ingestible apparatus includes a housing defining a sample compartment, a stopper configured to seal an access port, and an actuation assembly connected to the stopper. The actuation assembly is movable between a first working position where the access port is open and a second working position where the access port is sealed with the stopper. The apparatus also includes a dissolvable block configured to prevent the actuation assembly from moving between the first and second working positions until the apparatus is within a target area of the GI tract. The actuation assembly is configured, in the second working position, to apply a linear force at an interface between the stopper and a sealing surface to seal the access port with the stopper.